The Book of the Antichrist

John Whiteside “Jack” Parsons

The Black Pilgrimage

Now it came to pass even as BABALON told me, for after
receiving Her Book I fell away from Magick, and put away
Her Book and all pertaining thereto. And I was stripped
of my fortune (the sum of about $50,000) and my house,
and all I Possessed.

Then for a period of two years I worked in the world,
recouping my fortune somewhat. But that was also taken
from me, and my reputation, and my good name in my
worldly work, that was in science.

And on the 31st of October, 1948, BABALON called on me
again, and I began the last work, that was the work of
the wand. And I worked for 17 days, until BABALON called
me in a dream, and instructed me on an astral working.
Then I reconstructed the temple, and began the Black
Pilgrimage, as She instructed.

And I went into the sunset with Her sign, and into the
night past accursed and desolate places and cyclopean
ruins, and so came at last to the City of Chorazin. And
there a great tower of Black Basalt was raised, that was
part of a castle whose further battlements reeled over
the gulf of stars. And upon the tower was this sign

And one heavily robed and veiled showed me the sign,
and told me to look, and behold, I saw flash below me
four past lives wherein I had failed in my object. And I
beheld the life of Simon Magus, preaching the Whore
Helena as the Sophia, and I saw that my failure was in
Hubris, the pride of the spirit. And I saw my life as
Giles de Retz, wherein I attempted to raise Jehanne Darc
to be Queen of the Witchcraft, and failed through her
stupidity, and again my pride. And I saw myself in
Francis Hepburne, Earl Bothwell, manipulating Gellis
Duncan, that was an unworthy instrument. And again as
Count Cagliostro, failing because I failed to comprehend
the nature of women in my Seraphina. And I was shown
myself as a boy of 13 in this life, invoking Satan and
showing cowardice when He appeared. And I was asked:
“Will you fail again?” and I replied “I
will not fail.” (For I had given all my blood to
BABALON, and it was not I that spoke.)

And thereafter I was taken within and saluted the
Prince of that place, and thereafter things were done to
me of which I may not write, and they told me, “It
is not certain that you will survive, but if you
survive you will attain your true will, and manifest the
Antichrist.

And thereafter I returned and swore the Oath of the
Abyss, having only the choice between madness, suicide,
and that oath. But the Oath in no wise ameliorated that
terror, and I continued in the madness and horror of the
abyss for a season. But of this no more. But having
passed the ordeal of 40 days I took the oath of a
Magister Templi, even the Oath of Antichrist before
Frater 132, the Unknown God.

And thus was I Antichrist loosed in the world; and to
this I am pledged, that the work of the Beast 666 shall
be fulfilled, and the way for the coming of BABALON be
made open and I shall not cease or rest until these
things are accomplished. And to this end I have issued
this my Manifesto.

The Manifesto of the Antichrist

Do what thou wilt shall be the
whole of the Law.

I, BELARION, ANTICHRIST, in the year 1949 of the rule
of the Black Brotherhood called Christianity, do make my
Manifesto to all men. And I, THE ANTICHRIST, come among
you, saying:

An end to the pretence, and lying hypocrisy of
Christianity.

An end to the servile virtues, and superstitious
restrictions.

An end to the slave morality.

An end to prudery and shame, to guild and sin, for
these are of the only evil the sun, that is fear.

An end to all authority that is not based on courage
and manhood, to the authority of lying priests, conniving
judges, blackmailing police, and

An end to the servile flattery and cajolery of mods,
the coronations of mediocraties, the ascension of
dolts.

An end to restriction and inhibition, for I, THE
ANTICHRIST, am come among you preaching the Word of the
BEAST 666, which is, “There is no law beyond Do what
thou wilt.”

And I, BELARION, ANTICHRIST, do lift up my voice and
prophecy, and I say:

I shall bring all men to the law of the BEAST 666, and
in His law I shall conquer the world.

And within seven years of this time, BABALON, THE
SCARLET WOMAN HILARION will manifest among ye, and bring
this my work to its fruition.

An end to conscription, compulsion, regimentation, and
the tyranny of false laws.

And within nine years a nation shall accept the Law of
the BEAST 666 in my name, and that nation will be the
first nation of earth.

And all who accept me the ANTICHRIST and the law of
the BEAST 666, shall be accursed and their joy shall be a
thousandfold greater than the false joys of the false
saints.

And in my name BELARION shall they work miracles, and
confound our enemies, and none shall stand before us.

Therefore I, THE ANTICHRIST call upon all the Chosen
and elect and upon all men, come forth now in the name of
Liberty, that we may end for ever the tyranny of the
Black Brotherhood.

Witness my hand and seal on this [...] day of [...]
1949, that is the year of BABALON 4066.